IE52847B1 - Releasing apparatus for coin-freed vending apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A coin-freed mechanism for a vending machine has electrical sensing means (7, 9, 16) which are actuated to free the mechanism by relying on the electrical conductivity of an inserted coin (24) or a series combination of inserted coins (24, 25) of the correct denomination(s); the inserted coins themselves "make" or energize an electrical circuit which causes the normally-locked mechanism to be freed and goods to be dispensed from the machine.

Description

This invention relates to a releasing apparatus for coin-freed vending machines.

Known slot machines have coin testers which test each individual coin inserted into the machine for properties such as size and weight, the coin tester rejecting counterfeit or defective coins before they can release the locking mechanism of the slot machine. Normally, a slot machine can be opened on the insertion of a number of ; .coins of the same or different denominations, and the present invention was devised to provide a coin-freed mechanism which checks the complete combination of coins inserted.

As indicated below, however, the invention is also applicable to a coin-freed mechanism which is released by a single coin of a particular denomination.

Particular problems arise in devising a coin-freed mechanism which checks a combination of inserted coins.

For example, the mechanism should be able to cope with dissimilar coins inserted into the machine in different orders and must be capable of aligning the inserted coins accurately for checking purposes. To allow for coins of different diameters to be inserted, sufficient lateral clearance must be provided in the coin inlet, yet the coins must come to rest in predetermined positions in which an overall dimension can he checked.

From U.S. Specification 1 498 548 a coin-freed - 3 apparatus is known which comprises an electrical circuit controlling a unit of the apparatus which permits or prevents the apparatus to be freed and goods to be dispensed from the machine, and electrical coin sensing contacts forming part of a circuit which is normally open across the sensing means. The insertion of a predetermined number and size of coins is effective to establish a conductive path across the sensing contacts via the coins to close and energize the circuit and to free the unit. However, this known apparatus does not include means for distinguishing between the real and counterfeit coins.

From French Specification A - 1 460 027 a coin-freed apparatus is known in which inserted coins are caused to roll down an inclined chute provided with a fixed stop and electrical contacts. When the correct number of coins have accumulated in the chute, a circuit is closed through the relevant contact and an electromagnet swings the chute to one side to allow the coins to drop into a collector box and to release the dispenser. A separate selector checks the inserted coins before allowing them to reach the chute via a further electromagnet controlling a pin. The resulting machine is complex, involves the use of a plurality of electromagnets and does not reliably reject counterfeit coins. - 4 German Specification C - 905 685 discloses a coinoperated mechanism with two chutes. A pivoted contact forming part of a solenoid circuit is engageable with the uppermost coin. Closure of the circuit causes a sprung bell-crank to rotate and remove a stop from the chute blocking the coin path, while also causing a motor switch to close and to initiate a cycle releasing the goods and resetting the crank and the solenoid. Again, the resulting machine is complex, involves the use of a solenoid and an electronic motor and does not reliably reject counterfeit coins.

None of these prior specifications is capable of detecting a certain value of the aggregate of the coins introduced, whether made up of a mix of large and small15 value coins. All these prior specifications are capable of a unique measurement of the number of coins.

This deficiency is overcome by the invention, which relates to releasing apparatus for a coin-freed vending machine, comprising an electrical circuit controlling the blocking or release of a part of the machine which provides access to the goods to be dispensed from the machine, and electrical coin-sensing contact assemblies one of which is formed at the base of a coin chute and at least one other assembly at a position spaced above the said one contact assembly at a height which is adjustable - 5 to enable the dimension of the coin or of the combination of coins to be varied,the said contact assemblies forming part of said circuit and being positioned and arranged to engage coin(s) of correct denomination(s) and diameters; the said circuit being normally open across said contact assemblies, the insertion of a predetermined number and size of coin(s) being effective to-establish a conductive path across said contact assemblies to close and energize the circuit and to free said part.

The apparatus is characterised in that the said at least one other of said contact assemblies is pivotably mounted adjacent to and movable with an insulated feeler member under the effect of passage past it of inserted coin(s), the feeler member being effective to gauge the dimensions of the coin(s) inserted and to hold the said other contact assembly out of contact with the coins when their dimensions deviate from the correct ones.

Preferably, there is a plurality of said other contact assemblies connected in series.

Said other contact assembly may include a pivoted flap carrying a pair of parallel screws of which the one nearer to the pivot axis carries a knob of insulating material constituting said feeler member.

Expediently, the free end of said knob is chamfered so that it tapers to a tip on the side nearer to the 5284 - 6 screw; and the said one screw is longer than the other screw.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 3 show, for the purposes _of explanation, a coin-freed mechanism constructed by the inventor (referred to hereinafter as the first-mentioned mechanism) which does not embody the invention, while Figures 4 and 5 show a mechanism embodying the invention.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the first-mentioned mechanism: Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary views on the planes A-A and B-B of Figure 1 respectively; and Figures 4 and 5 are views respectively similar to Figures 1 and 2 but showing the mechanism embodying the invention, Figure 5 being a section on the plane C-C of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, the first-mentioned mechanism is used to lock a drawer 1 which is slidable from - 7 the locked position shown to an open position in order to dispense cigarettes in an automatic vending machine.

The direction of opening movement of the drawer 1 is into the plane of Figure 1. The drawer 1 is fitted with a latch plate 2 (see also Figure 3) into which projects a movable bolt 3 formed by the armature of an electrical solenoid 4. One terminal of the solenoid 4 is connected by a lead 5 to a battery (not shown) and the other terminal is connected by a lead 6 to a sprung wiper contact 7 attached at the lower end of a coin chute 8.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the wiper contact 7 has a sprung lower end which engages a strip contact 9 mounted in a groove 10 being inclined to the horizontal as shown in Figure 1. The mechanism has a back panel 12 of wood on which is mounted the solenoid 4 and a channel-shaped piece of clear plastics 13. The .chute 8 is defined between the piece of plastics 13 and the back panel 12.

The plastics piece 13 of the coin chute 8 has an elongated slot 14 within which is clamped, at a preselected position along the slot 14, a top contact assembly 15 having a top contact 16 capable of pivoting about an axis'X-X relative to a block 17 clamped in the slot 14 by a clamping screw 18.

The top contact 16 is connected by an electrical lead 19 to a contact screw 20 mounted in an insulating block 22 carrying a depending beryllium copper - 8 spring contact 23, the block 22 being mounted on the back panel 12.

When coins are inserted into the mechanism they fall down the coin chute 8, displacing the top contact 16 which pivots about axis X-X with a rocking motion as the coins pass. The inclination of the coin chute 8, combined with the angle of the lower strip contact 9 mounted on the drawer 1,' ensures that the lowermost coin (shown at 24 in Figure 1) occupies a predetermined position with its outer peripheral edge in contact with the lower strip contact 9. The strip contact 9 makes an obtuse angle with the right-hand side of the coin chute 8, as seen in Figure 1. Subsequently inserted coins 25 form a stack, the edges of the coins being in contact one with the next and with the right-hand- edge of the coin chute 8, as seen in Figure 1. If the combination of coins inserted is the correct one, the top contact 16, which acts as a sensitive feeler, will engage the edge region of the uppermost coin at a position offset from the diametral line through the two coins 25.Assuming that the drawer 1 is in its retracted closed position shown in Figure 2, electrical continuity is established from the top contact 16, through the stack of inserted coins, through the lower strip contact 9 mounted on the drawer 1, through the wiper contact 7 and thence to the solenoid 4. Completion of this electrical circuit energises the solenoid 4 the armature of which moves upwardly to release - 9 the drawer 1. The upper end of the solenoid armature carries a nylon cap 26 which, on its upward movement, engages the beryllium copper spring contact 23 and urges the latter into electrical contact with the contact screw 20 so as to complete a circuit to a device which produces a vend accept audible signal.

If electrical continuity.is not established through the stack of coins, for example if a coin has been encircled with tape to make it larger in an attempt to pass it off as a coin of larger denomination, the bolt 3 will remain engaged with the latch plate 2 and the drawer 1 will not be openable. The coins are returned by the operator pushing the drawer 1 in slightly to allow the coins to fall through a coin slot 27 (Figure 2) in the drawer 1. It will be appreciated that if the overall size of the stack of coins, as measured at the off-centre position of the contact or feeler 16, is not of the predetermined magnitude determined by the position of the block 17 in the slot 14, the drawer 1 will also remain locked.

On release of the drawer 1 and the delivery of the product therein, the coins fall from the chute 8 behind the end of the drawer 1. On return movement of the drawer, the bolt 3 rides up an inclined edge of the latch plate (shown in Figure 3) before engaging therein.

The construction and operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 will be clear from comparison with Figures 1 to 3. In Figures 4 and 5, certain - 10 parts similar or functionally equivalent to corresponding parts in the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 have been omitted for clarity and will not be described. Other parts requiring description to understand the embodi5 ment have had their reference number increased by 100 relative to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3.

In this embodiment the drawer 100 has a groove 110 with a step 111. A contact plate 109 is secured in the groove 110 and co-operates with a wiper contact 107 attached to the lower end region of a coin chute 108 that is inclined to the vertical.

An elongated slot 114 is formed in the chute 108. In the slot 114 are clamped, at preselected and variable positions, two top contact assemblies 115 and 115a, capable of pivoting about parallel axes X-X, X'-X* relative to a block 117 clamped in the slot 114 by a respective clamping screw 118.

They are electrically in series. The two contact assemblies 115 and 115a are essentially identical, so it will be sufficient to describe one, 115, only.

The assembly has a metal plate flap 130 carrying a pair of aligned screws 116, 132. The screw 116 is in a lower plane as viewed, and its curved surface (or at least the bottom portion thereof) is provided with an insulated covering or coating 134.

Its plane end face 136 will remain as bare metal so that only this end face 136 can make electrical - 11 contact with the coins to complete a circuit.

The other screw 132 carries at its end a knob 138 of insulating material. The bottom surface of the knob 138 is partly chamfered at 140 so that it tapers to a tip 142 on the side nearer the screw 116. The screw 132 with the tip 142 is slightly longer than the screw 116.

The operation of this embodiment is essentially similar to the mechanism described previously and only the differences will be highlighted. The mechanism can be actuated by one high-value coin (such as the U.K. £1 coin) or by an equal-value combination of two or more coins. Moreover, if the high-value coin (again, such as the U.K. £1 coin) is of relatively small diameter, the step 111 in the groove 110 will ensure that it comes to rest in the desired plane and does not, for instance, roll too far to the right, as viewed in Figure 4.

When a coin is inserted into the chute 108 the contact assemblies 115, 115a are pivoted about the axes X-X, X’-X*, as before. The screw 132 with the insulating knob 138 and chamfered surface 140 will be pushed up by the coins and serves to hold the contact screw 116 out of contact with the coins, unless the coins are right.

Moreover, by use of the coating or covering 134 it is ensured that electrical contact is made only when a correct coin is directly under the end face 136, thereby preventing fraud e.g. by jogging the drawer or rocking the whole vending cabinet in an attempt to make coin edge-to-screw contact.

The contact assembly 115a has a fine adjustment mechanism for its position. The block 117 is slidably mounted in the slot 114 and carries a bracket 150 formed with a threaded aperture in which engages one end of a fine adjustment screw 152 extending from a bracket 154 fixed to the chute 108. The other end of the screw 152 has a head 156 which can be turned by a screwdriver to raise or lower the bracket 150 and so the assembly 115a Purely by way of example the mechanism is designed to dispense on (i) one £1 coin, or (ii) two 50p coins, but a) one lOp or 50p or other current U.K. coin would not have the right diameter or thickness to disable the insulating knob, or b) one 50p and one lOp coin are of insufficient length and the screws 116, 132 would be above them in the chute and engage the back panel 12 or c) one 50p and two lOp coins would be of sufficient length but the wrong thickness and so the chamfered surface 140 would hold the surface 136 of screw 116 away from the third coin.

Clearly the selection of the number of contact assemblies, their distance from each other, the distance between the screws 116, 132, the angle of chamfer on the knob 138 are all best determined emperically to suit the coinage of a given country.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS;

1. Releasing apparatus for a coin-freed vending machine, comprising an electrical circuit controlling the blocking or release of a part of the machine which provides access 5 to the goods to be dispensed from the machine, and electrical coin-sensing contact assemblies, one of which is formed at the base of a coin chute and at least one other assembly at a position spaced above the said one contact assembly at a height which is adjustable to enable 10 the dimension of the coin or of the combination of coins which will actuate the apparatus to be varied, the said contact assemblies forming part of said circuit and being positioned and arranged to engage coin(s) of correct denomination(s) and diameters; the said circuit being 15 normally open across said contact assemblies, the insertion of a predetermined number and size of coin(s) being effective to establish a conductive path across said contact assemblies to close and energize the circuit and to free said part, characterised in that the said at least 20 one other of said contact assemblies is pivotably mounted adjacent to and movable with an insulated feeler member under the effect of passage past it of inserted coin(s), the latter being effective to gauge the dimensions of the coin(s) inserted and to hold the said other contact - 14 assembly out of contact with the coins when their dimensions deviate from the correct ones.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that there is a plurality of said other contact assemblies 5 connected in series.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the electrical circuit includes a solenoid which, when the electrical contact assemblies are electrically interconnected through the coin(s) is energised to release 10 a locking bolt engageable in a patch plate attached to the said part.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the coin chute is inclined slightly to the vertical, the lower (one) contact assembly being 15 inclined both with respect to the coin chute and to the horizontal so that the first coin inserted is caused to occupy a predetermined position with its edge resting on the lower (one, contact assembly and against one side of the coin chute. 20

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said other contact assembly projects into the coin chute at a position offset from the diametral line passing through the uppermost coin and parallel to the coin chute.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, 25 characterised in that said other contact assembly includes a pivoted flap carrying a pair of parallel screws of which one nearer to the pivot axis carries a knob of insulating material constituting said feeler member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that 5 the free end of said knob is chamfered so that it tapers to a tip on the side nearer to the screw; and that the said one screw is longer than the other screw.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 and

9. 10 5 of the accompanying drawings.